Coin-controlled mechanism



A ril 29, 1930. w, H, R WE 1,756,388

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM I Filed March 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l I3 4 3 6 l8 4 ,l 1 o 12-? 0 10 INVENTOR.

WHFOWE April 29, 1930. w. H. ROWE COIN CONTROLLED MECHANI SM Filed Match 23, 1929 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WJ-[ROWEQ ATTORNEY;

A ril 29, 1930. w, H, ROWE 1,756,388

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet s Fig. 5'

.INVENTOR. W. H. PO WE ATTORNEY.

' Patented Apr. 29, 1930 entran stares.

rarest orrrc ei WILLIAM' HZ ROWE, OF LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA COIN-CONTROLLED IIIECHANISM Application fil ed March 23, 1929. Serial No. 349,378.

Tliisinvention relates toiinprovements in coin or tokenireed delivery plungers for vending-machines or the like. 7

Thegener'alobject of my'in'ventio'n is to provide a novel deliveryplunger for'a'vending machine;

Another object of my invention is to provide a plunger of the class described having novel means associatedtherewith" whereby it becomes necessary that the delivery'plunger' be moved its full limit of travel to correctly operate; 7,

A further 'objectbf the inventionis to pro vide a plirngerofthe class described including'meansfor' operating'a coin tray to de-' liverjcoins thereon to a coin box.

Other'objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection withthe'acconipanying drawings wherein n Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section'through a vendingmachine showingniy invention operative'ly positioned therein. 1

Fig; 2 is a fragmentarytop plan view showing a portion of the vending'rnachine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front end View of the plunger mechanism. I

Fig. 4 -isan enlarged rear end view of'the plunger 'mechanism' 7 g Fig. 5 isan enlarged side view of the plunger mechanism with one of the side plates removed.

Fig.6 isa view similar to Fig. 5 showing the delivery plunger in an extended position. v

' Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7''? of Fig. g

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line" 8 -8 of Fig. 5. V

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 7, showingthe delivery plunger in a partly extended position.

This invention'is an improvement on the inventions shown in my co-pending applications Serial No.'176,84t8, filed March 21 192?,

and Serial No. 229,809; filed-Oct. 31, 1927;

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have lnd cated my. improved vending machine cab net generally at 10 while'iny improved plunger mechanism is indicated generally at 11; The'cabinetlO in cludes side walls 12 a front wall 13, and a shelf 1% having elongated apertures 14"therein; A'coinbox 15 is provided and a'coin tray 16 pivoted to the side walls 12 as at "17' and includes upwardly projecting lugs 18.

' To maintain the coin tray in itsnorinal position Iprovide a coiled spring l8 'which is secured at one'end'to the coin'tray'lt) andis anchored at the oppositeend to'the front wall 135 i v Inthe front wall 13 adjafce'nt'the' coin'tray' 16 Iprovidea; plurality of glass closed'aper tures 18 so that coins upon the tray 16 are visible fro'm the outside. Vithinthe cabi net in the rear'of the plunger'mecha nisin 11 a support 19-is provideduponwhichtliear ticles 20 to be vendedare'staclied.

' Fora more detailed"description of'inyiniprovedvending machine cabinet reference may bemade' to my 'co-pendingi"application .filecl March 23; 1929, bearing" Serial No.

349,3?7 but it willbe understood" that the presentinvention may beus'e'd in co'njunjction withany other suitable'type"ofvending ma Q chine'cahinet than that described lierein.

My; improved plunger mechanism 11; of

wl'iicli any desired number may be used in each cabinetfis preferably made from sheet metal stampings; As shown tlieplunger 34 WlilClial'Q secured to bosses 35 on the shelf by screws'36. The bosses 35 a're' adapted "to prevent sidewise. movement of the plunger mechanism and to prevent endwise movement of the plunger mechanism 1 provide other bosses 37 5 which are'atlapt- J ed to engage each end of the plunger meclr anism.

Between the sides 22 and .5 I provide a horizontally inclined partition or bottom 38 which slopes from the rear of the plunger mechanism towards the front and forms the bottom of coin chutes, the inner sides of which are formed by an inverted Ushaped member 40. The member 40 includes side walls 41, 42,.each of which are spaced from the adjacent side plates 22 and 23 to form previously mentioned coin chutes which are designated at 43 (see Fig. 3). The member 40 includes a downwardly projecting lip which projects through an aperture 45 in the partition 88. The top portion 46 of the. member 40 is arovided with anelongated aperture 47 anc the partition 88 is provided with a similar aperture 48 (see Figs. 7 and 9).

lositioned in the grooves 27 of the side plates 22 and 28 I provide a slide plate 50 which is provided on each side with a coin holding slot 51 and with spaced elongated apertures 52 (see Fig. 8). The coin slots 51 are adapted to be normally positioned directly below the apertures 45 in the partition 88. Adjacent the front of the plate 50 I secure thereto a vertical operating post 53 which extends through the slot 48 in the partition 38 through the slot 47 in the top 46 of the member 40 and through the slot 83 in the plate 30 and has an operating knob 55 removably secured thereto as by a screw 54. Adjacent the rear end of the plate 50 I secure thereto a post 56 to which a delivery pawl 57 is pivotally secured as at 58. This pawl 57 is provided with a slot 59 so that it may be mounted on the post 56 as shown in Fig. 4, and is so balanced and pivoted to the post in such a manner that it normally assumes a vertical position so that when the plunger is moved rearwardly it will engage the lowermost package 20 of a compartment and push it ofi the support 19. On a delivery movement the rear portion of the pawl 57; that is the portion thereof above the sl0t59; engages the post 56 and prevents the upper portion of the pawl from swinging forward when it engages a package. On a return of the plunger the pawl 57 is adapted to engage the lowermost package and assume an inclined position and ride under the lowermost package as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The delivery plate 50 and its associated parts is normally urged to a retracted position as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7, by providing a coiled spring'60 which is secured at one end to a downwardly extending lip 61 on the partition 88 and at the opposite end to the post 56. Inasmuch as the spring is in a direct line with the operating post 53 it is necessary to provide a bent-out portion 62 in the post 53 to clear the spring 60.

To each of the side walls 22 and 23 and adjacent the rear thereof I pivotally secure as at 68 a dog 64, each dog including an upwardly extending lip 65 and an outwardly extending lip 66 which extends through an aperture 67 in the adjacent side Wall and has one end of a coiled spring 68 secured thereto. other end of the spring is anchored to an outwardly punched lip 69 on the side wall. The springs 68 are adapted to normally urge the free end of the dogs 64 upwardly so that the lips 65 thereof are positioned in the apertures 52 of the plate 50.

When the dogs 64 are in this position the straight front faces 70 thereof are adapted upon movement of the plate 50 to engage the front of the plate apertures 52 and prevent full rearward movement of the plate 50.

My improved plunger mechanism is particularly applicable for use where it is necessary to inserttwo coins which may be of different'value in order to effect operation of the machine, and the sizes of the coin slots 31 and 32, the coin chutes 48, the'apertures 45 and the plate coin slots 51 will be determined by he sizes of the coins required to operate the device. Vhen the proper coins are inserted in the coin slots 31 and 82 they will roll down their respective chutes 43, and drop through the partition apertures 45 into the plate coin slots 51 whereby upon movement of the plate 50 in a rearward direction the coins will enbevelled portions 72 on. the ends of the dogs 64 and upon continued movement will force the dogs downward and the lips 65 out of the plate apertures 52 thereby allowing the plate 50 to be moved in a full delivery stroke. a 7

To prevent upward movement of the coins in the plate coin slots 51 when they are operating the dogs 64 I secure on the inner face of each of the sides 22 and 28 a bar 78 which engages the top of the coins as the plunger is moved. The bars 73 are preferably riveted to the side plates but they may be secured thereto in any other manner desired. To remove the coins from the plate coin slots I provide an ejector 7 5 which is supported in position by oppositely disposed lugs 75 which are adapted to be positioned in apertures 75 in the side plates 22 and 23 (see Fig. 8). This ejector is provided with oppositely disposed tapered surfaces 76 which are adapted to be engaged by the coins in the coin slots 51 to force them out of the coin slots 51 and out through the apertures 28 in the sides 22 and 28. To guide the ejected coins to the coin tray 16 I provide on each side of the plunger mechanism coin guides 77. The coin guides 77 are preferably secured to the plunger mechanism by clamping them between the two lower screws 25 and the adjacent side plate (see Fig. 1).

Secured to the underside of the plate 50 I provide a post 7 8 having pivotally secured thereto as at 79, a finger 80. This finger in- The 'i cludes at thebottom thereof an inwardly bent portion 8 1andadjacent the top an inwardly bent portion 82 which is adapted to engage the front edge of the post 7 8. The finger 80 is pivoted in such a manner that it normally hangs'in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 5, with the portion 82 in engagement with the front edge of the post 78. As the plunger mechanism isoperated to deliver an article the finger 80 engages the upwardly project.- ing lugs 18 on the coin tray 16 and-swings the latter rearwardly until the finger passes over the lug 18, whereupon the coin tray is-returned to its normal position by the-coiled spring 18 l/Vhen the .coin tray is I swung l'earwardly any coins thereon, which will be the coins used for the previous operation, will fall between the forward edge of the tray and the front wall 13 into the coin receptacle 15. As the plunger mechanism returns to its initial position the finger 80 engages the lug 18 on the coin tray and swings upwardly and rises over the lug after which it drops to normal position.

To prevent surreptitious use of the machine I provide on each of the sides 22'and 23 a coin scale 85. As shown, each of these scales coniprise a-plate 86'providedwith upturned lugs 87 which are pivotally mounted on a rod 88 loosely mounted in outstruclr lips 89 on the side plate. A' portion of each" plate 86 is adapted to extend through an aperture 90 in the adjacent side plate andfbe positioned in the aperture in the partition 38 and normally lie on the same plane as the partition. These scales are-so balanced that the weight of the correct coins to be used will tile the inner ends of the plates '86 downwardly and allow-the coin to drop downward iinto the coin slots of the plates; Coins which are not of'the correct weight will not tilt-the innerends of the scale plates downward but will pass over the scale plates and roll out the frontof the coin chutes and into coin return guide92provided adjacent the front plate 13 and out of the machine through a plurality of coin return apertures 93 in the front plate 13.

For preventing the plunger 'mechanism 5 from returning to its initial position before an article has been delivered I provide ratchet teeth 95 which are inwardly struck from one of the side plates-,shown in this instance as the side plate 22. T iese ratchet teeth 95 are adapted to be engagedby a pawl 96 pivoted 97 to the operating post 53. The pawl. 96 includes teeth engaging portions 98 and 99 and is adapted to normally hang as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. p p 7 9 After the plunger mechanism has been freed by the insertion of theproper coins and is moved rearwardlythe portion'98 of the pawl 96 engages the teeth 95 as shown in solid lines in Fig. 9 and prevents the 7 plunger mechanism from returning to its initial=position-until the pawl ha'spassed the;

rearward end of the ratchet teeth 95 and assumed its normal positionas shown in Fig. 6. As the plunger mechamsm returns to its initial positionthe portion 99 of the pawl 96 engages the'teeth' 95 as shown indotted linesin Fig. 9and prevents-the plunger mechanlsm from being moved rearwardly until it reaches its initlal position-asshown in Fig. 5,

whereupon the pawl 96 swings to its normal position and will allow the plunger mechanism to be moved rearwardly again after the insertion of the propercoins. V

The distance from the axis of the pivot 97 of the pawl to-the end of the teeth engaging portions 98 and 99'thereof is greater than the distance from the pivot 97 to the root of the teeth 95, so that when an attempt is made to move the plunger mechanism against the pawl 96 the normaltendency is for the plate 50 and the post 53 to rise but owing to theplate being positioned in the tracks 27 this is prevented and the plunger mechanism is wedged between the tracks 27 and the ratchet teeth 95.

To operate my improved plunger mecha-.

nism the proper coinsare inserted in the coin slots31 and 32 of the plate 30." vThe coins then slide down the coin chutes 43, trip the scales 85 and fall into the coin slots 51 of the plate plunger 50. The operator then moves the. operating knob rearwardly thereby moving the plate 50 rearwardly and carrying the coins into engagement with the bevelledsurface 72'of the dogs 64. Upon further rearwardmovement. the coins force the dogs downward against the action of the springs68 and move the projections on the dogs out of the apertures '52 in'the plate thereby freeing the platefor full delivery movement. As the'plunger continues to move rearwardly the upper end of the pawl 57 engages a package 20 and pushes it off the support 19. After the package has been delivered the operator releases the knob 55 and the spring 60 returns the plunger mechanism to its initial position. 7 I

As previously stated,'the pawl 96 and the ratchet teeth '95 prevent return of the plunger to its initial position until a full delivery. 1

stroke-has been made and prevent a second delivery movement of the plunger until the plunger has returned to its initial position.

To prevent the insertion of coins in the coin slots 3l'and:32.when the plunger mechae sertion of coins until the plunger is returned to its initial position. 7

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that l have provided a novel coin freed plunger mechanism which is simple in construction and efiicient to use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a coin actuated plunger, a housing including spaced side plates, a plunger movable between said side plates, a pair of looking dogs, each of said dogs including an upwardly projecting lip adapted to normally engage said plunger to prevent movement of said plunger and a cam surface on the upper portion of said dogs to engage a coin.

2. In a coin actuated plunger, a housing,

a plunger slidably mounted in said housing, a coin slot associated withsaid plunger, means associated with said housing to remove a coin from said slot, a coin guide associated with said housing, said coin guide including a side portion spaced from said housing and a bottom portion downwardly inclined and adapted to direct coins removed from said coin slot.

3. In a coin controlled device, a support,

a pair of spaced retaining plates thereon, a

casing member having retaining flanges iitted beneathsaid retaining plates, a plunger slidable in said casing, means for normally preventing actuation of said plunger, and coin actuated means for releasing the plunger, said support having a coin slot therein, and d plunger having a coin slot therein out of gnment with the first mentioned coin slot when said plunger is in its initial position.

i. A. coin actuated mechanism comprising a casing, a slidable coin operated plunger in said casing, a pair of pivoted locking bolts mounted beneath said plunger and normally ad pted to engage said plunger to prevent operation thereof, coin slots in said plunger, said bolts each having a cam surface thereon adapted to engage coins in said plunger slots, whereby when said plunger is advanced, said locking bolts will be moved and means in the path or said coins to discharge said coins.

5. In a coin controlled device, a supporting member, a plunger slidable in said member, said plunger including an operating portion,

7 means to normally prevent actuation of said plunger, a coin slot associated with said plunger, means whereby when the proper coin is inserted in said slot the means for preventing actuation will be released upon actuation of the plunger, and means whereby on actuation a coin in said slot is prevented from moving upwardly in theslot.

6. A coin actuated mechanism comprising casing, a slidable coin operated plunger in said casing, a plurality of pivoted locking bolts normally adapted to engage said plunger to prevent operation thereof, coin slots in said plunger, said bolts each having a cam on the upper surface thereof adapted to engage a coin in said plunger slot, whereby when said plunger is advanced, said locking bolts will be moved and means to discharge said coin from said coin slot.

7. in a coin control ed device, a supporting member, a plunger slidable in said member, said plungerincluding an operating portion and v 1g a portion for causing an article be delivered, means to normally prevent actuation of said plunger, a coin slot on said plunger, the bottom of said slot being narrower than the diameter of a coin adapted to be used with said device, said plunger being of less thickness than the diameter of the coin which releases it, additional means whereby union the proper coin is inserted in said slot the means for preventing actuation will be r leased upon actuation of the plunger, and means for preventing actuation from moving the coin upwardly in the slot.

8. In a. coin actuated plunger, a housing including spaced side plates, a groove in the inner face of each of said side plates, a partition positioned between said side plates above said grooves and sloping from the rear towards the front of said housing, an inverted U shaped member above said partition including side walls spaced from said side plates to form coin chutes, and a plunger positioned in said side plategrooves and movable therein.

9. In a coin controlled device, a casing member, a plunger slidable in said member, said plunger having an operating portion, a locking bolt pivotally mounted adjacent to said plunger and adapted to engage said plunger to prevent movement thereof in one direction, said plunger having a coin slot therein, said locking bolt having a cam face thereon disposed in alignment with said coin slot whereby the coins will engage said cam to depress the locking bolt and free the plunger and a coin ejector on the inner wall of said casing adapted to engage coins in said plunger coin slots to push them from said plunger coin slots.

10. In a coin actuated plunger, a housing including spaced side plates, a plurality of posts adapted to retain said side plates in spaced relation and secured to said posts, a groove in the inner face of each of said side plates, a partition positioned between said side plates above said grooves and sloping from the rear towards the front of said housing, an inverted U shaped member above said partition including side walls spaced from said side plates to form coin chutes, a coin slot adjacent each side of said partition between the sides of said inverted U shaped member and said side plates, an elongated aperture in the top of said inverted U shaped member and an elongated aperture in said partition, plunger plate, said plate being positioned in said side plate grooves, an operating post on said plunger plate adjacent the front thereof, said post extending upwardly and being positioned in said grooves of said 7 pawl being pivoted to normally hang in an upright position.

11. In a coin actuated plunger, a housing including spaced side plates, a groove in the inner face of each of said side plates, a partition positioned between saidside plates above a said grooves and sloping from the rear to- I wards the front of said housing, an inverted U shaped member above said partition including side walls spaced from said side plates to form coin chutes, a coin slot adjacent each side of said partition, said partition having an elongated aperture therein, a plunger plate, said plate being movable in said'side plate grooves, an operating post on said plunger plate, a second post on said plunger plate adjacent the rear thereof, a U shaped pawl pivotally secured to said second post, said pawl being pivoted to normally hang in a vertical position, a spring adapted to retain said plunger plate in a retracted position, a coin slot in each side of said plunger plate and an aperture adjacent each side of said plunger plate, said plunger plate coin slots being arranged, when said plunger is in a retracted position, directly below said coin slots in said partition, a pair of locking 5 dogs, one of said dogs being pivoted to one of said side plates below said plunger plate, each of said dogs including an upwardly projecting lip adapted to be normally positioned in said aperture on said plunger plate to prevent rearward movement of said plunger plate, an outwardly extending lip on each of said dogs, an aperture in each of said side plates and said outwardly extending lips being positioned therein, an out-struck tongue on the outer face of each of said side plates and a coiled spring anchored to each of said tongues and connected to said outwardly extendin lips of said dogs, said springs being a apted to resiliently urge said dogs upward.

12. In a coin actuated plunger, a housing including spaced side plates, a plurality of posts adapted to retain said side plates in spaced relation, said plates being secured to said posts, a groove in the inner face of each of said side plates, a partition positioned between said side plates above said grooves and sloping from the rear towards the front of said housing, an inverted U shaped member above said partition including side walls spaced from said side plates to form coin chutes, a coin slot adjacent each side of said partition between the sides of said inverted U shaped member and said side plates, an elongated aperture in the top of said inverted U shaped member and an elongated aperture in said partition, a plunger plate, said plate being movable in said side plate grooves, an operating post on said plunger plate adjacent the front thereof, said post extending upwardly and being positioned in said grooves of said inverted U shaped member and said partition, a second post on said plunger plate adjacent the rear there-of, a pawl pivotally secured tosaid second post, said pawl being pivoted to normally hang in an upright position, a coin slot in each side of said plunger plate and an aperture adjacent each side of said plunger plate, said plunger plate coin slots being, when said plunger is in a retracted position, directly below said coin slots in said partition, a pair of locking dogs, one of said dogs being pivoted to each of said side plates below said plunger plate, each of said dogs including an upwardly" projecting lip adapted to be normally positioned in said apertures on said plunger plate to prevent rearward movement of said plunger plate, resilient means adapted to resiliently urge said dogs upward, the front end of each of u said dogs including a tapered surface, said tapered surface being adapted to be engaged by coins in said plunger plate coin slots to thereby move said dogs downward and said upwardly'extending lips on said dogs out of said plunger plate apertures when said plunger plate is moved rearwardly, a coin discharge aperture in each of said side plates, a coin ejector positioned between said side plates above said plunger plate and adjacent said coin discharge apertures, said ejector including a pair of oppositely disposed tapered surfaces, said tapered surfaces being adapted to be engaged by coins in said plunger plate coin slots and adapted to force coins therefrom and out through said coin discharge apertures upon rearward movement of said plunger plate.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. ROWE.

an." au. 

